How to Make a Multi-Strand Leather Necklace

Written by tanya lee

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Use needle-nose pliers to assemble the findings for this necklace. (pliers image by Valentin Mosichev from Fotolia.com)

Making jewellery can be a lot of fun---and there are so many variations on even the simplest patterns. A multi-strand leather necklace can be a few simple pieces of leather cord or an elaborate creation of leather, beads and other embellishments. This leather necklace cleverly combines jewellery-making and leatherworking techniques to create a unique and infinitely variable piece of jewellery.

Skill level:

Easy

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Things you need

1.5 mm round leather cord in one or more colours

Tape measure

Scissors

Thin craft wire

1-minute epoxy glue

2 11 x 5.5 mm cord coils

Needle-nose pliers

2 jump rings

Toggle clasp

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Instructions

Basic Pattern

1

Cut three 18-inch pieces of leather cord. The cords can all be the same colour, or you can choose two or three complementary colours. Leather cord comes in dozens of hues.

2

Align one end of each of the three cords and tightly wind a piece of thin wire around the ends of all three together. Use just enough wire to hold the ends firmly. Repeat with the other set of cord ends.

3

Add a dab of epoxy glue to the combined strands on one end of the necklace. Insert the three cords into a cord coil and hold for a minute or two until the epoxy hardens. Crimp the last coil to ensure a permanent bond using a pair of needle-nose pliers. Repeat with the other end of the necklace.

4

Open a jump ring with a pair of needle-nose pliers and insert the loop at the end of the cord coil. While the jump ring is still open, attach one side of a toggle clasp. Use the pliers to close the jump ring. Repeat with the other end of the necklace, attaching the other side of the toggle clasp.

Variations

1

Cut the three pieces of leather cord to different lengths, for example, one 16-inch strand, one 17-inch strand and one 18-inch strand. Or cut them all 14 inches long to make a choker. Assemble the necklace according to the instructions above.

2

Place a bead or several beads on one or more of the leather cords before you assemble the necklace.

3

Braid three equal lengths of leather cord, then assemble the necklace as described above.

4

Use a barrel clasp or lobster clasp in place of the toggle clasp for a little more formal look.

5

Cut one piece of leather cord 50 inches long. Attach the cord coils and clasps to the ends as directed, omitting the step of fastening the strands together with thin wire (since you have only one strand of leather cord). Loop the necklace around your neck two or three times before you fasten the clasp to make a two- or three-strand necklace.